There’s a chance that you only have a few minutes to collect and protect important documents when you are confronted by a flood or fire within your home. The list of papers to keep is comprised of medical and financial documents including birth, marriage and death certificates passports and other identification such as insurance policies; and title deeds as well as deeds. It isn’t easy and time-consuming to replace these documents, so it is essential to keep them in a secure location in the event of a catastrophe. The best method to do that is to make a list of your papers, making extra copies for quick access and keep them in a safe.
Safe deposit boxes at banks are a great option to store important documents. If you’re not able to set up a bank account you can purchase an insurance-compliant document safe and put it in your home. These safes come in a variety of sizes and are designed to accommodate hanging file folders. Select a safe that has strong locking mechanisms to prevent break-ins. It should also have a ULC rating of at least one hour at temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees F.
You can also put them in a filing cabinet or drawer equipped with a combination or key lock to guard your important documents from being stolen. However, it doesn’t provide any protection against a natural disaster, and your documents could suffer damage from heat or humidity. To protect your paper files, consider using a labeled filing system and organizing them in labelled storage boxes or envelopes to avoid accidental destruction.